NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The Translational Genomics Research Institute will partner with Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania in an effort that will use genomics technologies and clinical data to discover causes of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions.
TGen said Wednesday that the strategic partnership will search for genetic explanations for why Americans are overweight, and why diet, exercise, and bariatric surgery may not succeed in helping some patients drop enough weight.
To pursue the plans, TGen will link its proteomic research capabilities with Geisinger's clinical data and research knowledge.
"Merging Geisinger's wealth of clinical information with our genomic and proteomic expertise should provide researchers a richer framework for exploring the genetic origins of disease, and hopefully lead to improved treatments and outcomes," Jeffrey Trent, TGen's president and research director, said in a statement.
"Given our unique research structure and a patient population that overwhelmingly supports cutting-edge research, I am confident that this partnership will allow us to test and apply new clinical translation theories to patient care," Geisinger President and CEO Glen Steele said in a statement.
TGen also said that its collaboration with the Partnership for Personalized Medicine, which includes Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, will contribute to the research effort with Geisinger.
"Identification of patients at risk for chronic metabolic diseases would provide enormous benefit to health care," added Geisinger Medical Center's David Carey, who is director of the Sigfried and Janet Weis Center for Research. "Geisinger's ability to obtain detailed, electronic health information in real time for a large, stable patient population will significantly accelerate this research effort."